The Salicylates

39: Salicylates

The Ancient Egyptians recognized the pain-relieving effects of concoctions made from myrtle and willow leaves. Hippocrates may have been among the first to use willow bark and leaves from the Salix species to relieve fever, but it was not until 1829 that the glycoside salicin was extracted from the willow bark and used as an antipyretic. Seven years later, salicylic acid was isolated, and by th...

Salicylates and the adrenal cortex.

The salicylates have been used in the symptomatic treatment of rheumatic disorders for over 50 years. They are capable of producing a striking change in the clinical picture of acute rheumatic fever and possess a smaller, but still definite, effect in rheumatoid arthritis. Their value as suppressive drugs appears to be concerned with alleviating the symptoms produced by the inflammatory process...

Circulatory effects of salicylates.

Sodinin salieylate consistently produces a prompt increase in heart contractile force when injected in anesthetized dogs in doses of 100 mg./Kg. intravenously. The increase in force is about 30 per cent and declines to control levels in 15 to 20 niin. This effect is not considered of important therapeutic significance. Total doses of about 400 mg./Kg. consistently produce marked hyperpyrexia wh...

Reye syndrome and salicylates.

This year in the United States there has been considerable controversy about circumstantial evidence linking salicylates to the pathogenesis of Reye syndrome and, in particular, whether that evidence is sufficiently strong to justify action. After careful review both the Federal government and the American Academy of Pediatrics have warned physicians and parents of the possible risk of Reye syn...

Salicylates and carbohydrate metabolism.